Clock ticking on Mulmur's Stanton hotel?

In case it has, Mulmur resident Carl Tafel plans to jog its memory, but demolition of the building may be drawing near.

Planning to speak before county council on Thursday (Feb. 7), Tafel plans to propose council give serious consideration to relocating the pre-Confederation building to the Dufferin County Museum and Archives (DCMA) grounds, or “at least have open discussions” about it.

So far, the Community Association to Save the Stanton Hotel (CASSH), which was formed to raise money in hopes to save the building, has gained two estimates to move the former hotel.

“We’re close to one of the estimates,” Tafel said, when asked about CASSH’s fundraising efforts. “We’re in sort of a catch 22 position. Without a solid place to move it to, it makes it very difficult for us to go after significant contributions.”

Of course, Tafel’s pitch might not go over well, as long as Grand Valley Mayor John Oosterhof, chair of the county’s museum board, has anything to say about it.

The museum board wasn’t interested last year, which “hasn’t changed as far as I know,” he explained.

“The museum clearly said they weren’t interested,” Oosterhof said. “Will anybody ever change their mind, who knows? But at this point, that is the way it stands.”

At the request of Mulmur Township, the county purchased the former Stanton hotel and a property immediately north at the intersection of Airport Road and 5 Sideroad for about $390,000 in the fall of 2011.

To improve sightlines at the intersection, the county planned to demolish the pre-Confederation hotel.

That changed when heritage advocates voiced intense displeasure with the county’s plan. County council has since given CASSH until this March to fundraise and propose a viable relocation and restoration plan.

“They were given the opportunity to come back to county council with a proposal. If that was acceptable, we would deal with it,” Oosterhof said. “Otherwise, the thing would be torn down.”

Ultimately, the fate of the former Stanton hotel rests with county council, even if the museum board isn’t interested.

“We’re willing to work alongside the museum to raise funds. The responsibility is not all on their shoulders,” Tafel said. “Things have changed a lot since then. We’re hopeful that maybe their attitude changed.”